Driving mechanism for the nippers of combing machines



F. SCHUMANN 2,865,055

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR THE NIPPERS OF COMBING MACHINES Dec. 23, 1958 Filed Feb. 23, 1955 INVENTOR FRITZ SCHUMANN ATTORNEY United States Patent Application February 23,'1955 ,-Serial No."490',067- Claims .priorityyapplication Germany March 3, 1954- 4 'Claims. (Cli19116) v This invention relates to new and-useful improvements in the dr-iving--mechanism=-for*-the nippers ofcombing machines. I

In connectionwith combing machines having stationary nippers and a rotatable combing rollerwith' a'comb segment, the nippers must be' opened and- "closedin' synchronization with the rotating comb segment:

In the previously known combers of this type,--the actuation of the nippers was efiected by a cam system. The cam-used required a relatively elaborate shape which made its production. difiicult and expensive. Furthermore, in the course of continuous operation, the cam-was subject ltdextensive wear which unfavorably influenced the action, operating speed, and life of the machine. The cam follower in theconventional drive had to be p gwb sed wagainst. the. .cam,v Withn .a relatively; high force in orden to effect positive. closing-sand holding! of the nippers. This, in addition to poor lubrication possibilities, led to noisy operation and a relatively low speed limit.

One object of this invention is a positive drive for the nippers of a combing machine to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages. This, and still further objects will become apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic representation of a combing machine with stationary nippers, incorporating an embodiment of a drive in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a kinematic diagram of the connection of parts of the drive shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with the invention, the drive for the combing machine having stationary nippers comprises a pivotal lever arm mounted for pivoting about a fixed pivot point and connected to the nippers for opening and closing actuation thereof upon pivoting, in the conventional manner. There is additionally provided a bell crank lever, a rocker arm pivotally mounted at one end for pivoting about a fixed pivot point, a connecting rod, and a crank mounted for rotation about a fixed axis. The bell crank lever is pivotally connected at one end to the free end of the rocker arm and at the other end to the crank. The connecting rod is pivotally connected at one end thereof to the pivotal lever, and at the other end to the angular apex of the bell crank lever. The pivotal connection between the connecting rod and pivotal lever R is preferably effected at a mean angle of rough ly about 90, while the pivotal connection between the rocker arm and the bell crank lever preferably form a mean acute angle.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the combing device comprises a rotatable roller provided with a comb segment N Nx and the nippers Z and Z The lower nipper Z is connected to the support 7, 7, which is mounted for limited pivoting about the pivot joint 61 against the spring F The nipper Z is thus pivotal in "ice the direction of'the'roller K for the limited distance X against the force of the spring F The pivoting in the opposite direction is limited by the stop A. The upper nipper Z is connected to the pivotal lever arm 6 6, which is mounted for pivoting about the fixed pivot point 61. By pivoting actuation of the lever arm 6' 6 about the-pivot point 61, the nippersyZ andZ may be-brought-to nipping engagement at the point K and this point'may be pivoted for a limited distance toward the-roller KK. The construction of the combing machine as described to this point is conventional and well known.

In accordance with'the invention, a crank 2 is provided for rotation about a fixed axis 12. A bell crank lever 3 is pivotally connected to the crank 2 at the'pivot joint 231- The term bell crank lever as used herein is-intended to define any connecting member. provided with three pivot points disposed withrespect to each other in theform of a triangle. Theother end of the bell crank lever3 is 'pivotally connected at the pivot joint 43"to a rocker arm 4, which is pivotally mounted at the fixed pivot joint 41. A connecting rod 5 is pivotally connected at oneend by means ofthe pivot joint 56to thepivotal lever 6',-'and at the other end by the pivot joint 35 totheangular apex, i. e., the intermediate pivot point ofthe' bell crank lever 3. The mean angleformed at the pivot joint 56 between the pivotal lever arm '6 and the connecting rod 5, is preferably roughly about Them'eanangleformed at the pivot-joint 43- between thesbelli cranklever 3 and the rocker arm 4 -is"preferab1y acuter.

The kinematic. connectionrofi the various 6 elements is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2. The portion 1 represents a stationary or fixed member, as, for example, the machine frame. As may be noted, the pivot joints 12, 61, and 41 are fixed with respect to this member, as, for example, the frame. The pivot joints 23, 43, 35 are on the bell crank lever 3 and connected to the fixed points 12, 41, and 61 by the crank arm 2, the rocker arm 4, and the members 5 and 6, respectively. The members 5 and 6 i. e., the connecting rod and pivotal lever are pivotally connected to each other through the pivot joint 56.

In operation, the roller KK and the crank arm 2 are rotated preferably at a constant angular velocity. The speeds of rotation between these two members are preferably synchronized.

As the crank 2 rotates, the rocker arm 4 holds the pivot point 43 so that the same can only reciprocate back and forth along a circular are, as shown on the dotted lines. At the same time, the pivot point 35 describes a sausage-shaped curve as indicated by the dotted lines. The complete sausage-shaped curve is described upon each revolution of the crank 2.

As the pivot point 35 starts in the position u, the pivotal lever arm 6 is pivoted toward the roller KK so that the nipper Z is spaced from the nipper Z and fibrous material is allowed to pass therethrough. At the same time, the spring F urges the support arm 7 in contact with the rest A, so that the point K of the nippers is pivoted away from the roller KK. As the pivot point 35 moves along the are between the points u and v, the nippers will remain in this position, since this portion of the arc is an arc of a circle with the point 56 as its center.

As the pivot point 35 passes around the point v and reverses itself, the pivotal lever arm 6 is pulled away from the rollers KK so that the nipper Z is pivoted in contact pressing against the nipper Z grasping any fibrous material. Upon further motion of the turnable lever arm 6, the support arms 7, 7 are pivoted against the pivotal lever arm 6 is again pivoted towards the The rotation of the roller K and the crank 2 is so synchronized that the nippers Z and Z come in clamping engagement and move toward the roller KK when the first row of needles at the point N1 just passes below the clamping point K. This will hold the fibrous material so that the same is combed by the needle segment. When the point Nx passes below the clamping point K, the pivotal clamping arm 6 is moved in the opposite direction, moving the nippers Z and Z out of engagement and away from the roller KK. The fibrous material is thus allowed to pass through the nippers until the same is clamped again for combing 0f the next portion. The nipper Z will not come out of engagement contact with the nipper Z until the support arm 7, 7 is pivoted so that the support arm 7' is in contact with the rest A.

While the invention has been described in detail, with specific reference to the embodiment shown, various modifications and changes will become apparent to the artisan which fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combing machine having nippers mounted in a fixed position, the improvement in the means for opening and closing the nippers which comprises a pivotal lever arm pivotally mounted about a fixed pivot point and connected to the upper jaw of said nippers for opening and closing actuation thereof upon pivoting, a bell crank lever, a rocker arm pivotally mounted at one end thereof for pivoting about a fixed pivot point spaced apart from said first mentioned pivot point, a connecting rod, and a crank mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said bell crank lever being pivotally connected at a one end to the free end of said rocker arm and at the other end to said crank, said connecting rod being pivotally connected at one end thereof to said pivotal lever arm and at the other end to the angular apex of said bell crank lever and being so arranged, whereby, upon rotation of said crank, the angular apex of said bell crank lever describes a sausage-shaped curve.

2. Improvement according to claim 1, in which said connecting rod is pivotally connected to said pivotal lever arm at a mean angle of about 90.

3. Improvement according to claim 2, in which said bell crank lever is pivotally connected to said rocker arm, so that a mean acute angle is formed therebetween.

4. Improvement according to claim 3, in which said rocker arm and said connecting rod extend substantially horizontally and in which the portion of said bell crank lever between the angular apex thereof and the end connected to said rocker arm extends substantially vertically.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,237,919 Wied Apr. 8, 1941 2,624,204 Babst Jan. 6 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 392,644 Germany Mar. 28, 1924 719,040 Germany Jan. 12, 1943 

